SEMA eNews Vol. 13, No. 26, July 1, 2010

The Tire Industry Association (TIA), one of the leading global authorities on tires, today announced the educational sessions for the 2010 Global Tire Expo–Powered by TIA, which is a part of the 2010 SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010, in Las Vegas. For the latest Expo information and updates, visit the “Events” section of www.tireindustry.org.

There will be four educational session tracks at this year’s Expo: TPMS at 10, Truck Tires at 10, Tires at 2 and Management at 4. The following is a current list of each session within these tracks (Note: Truck Tires at 10 session information is being finalized and will be released shortly):

TPMS at 10:

Tuesday, November 2: TPMS Service and Maintenance – Now that every new vehicle under 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) must have a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), tire retailers must adapt to numerous systems with unique service procedures. This lack of standardization is often the source of lost productivity and lower customer satisfaction. This session will cover key service principles for all types of TPMS and the importance of having quick access to part numbers and relearn procedures. As part of this presentation, there will also be a TPMS overview for every major domestic and import manufacturer.

Wednesday, November 3: TPMS Scan Tool Panel – Without a properly formatted TPMS relearn or scan tool, a technician cannot determine why the TPMS indicator light remains illuminated after the relearn procedure has been completed. The TPMS indicator could be caused by a number of problems, but some type of electronic diagnostic tool will probably be required to remedy the situation. This panel will feature the top technical experts from each of the major TPMS relearn/scan tool manufacturers who will provide attendees with a quick glimpse of the functions that their respective tools can deliver and then participate in a question-and-answer session following the presentations.

Thursday, November 3: Turning TPMS Into a Profit Center – Everyone knows that adapting to TPMS is going to come with some degree of pain. As the industry leader in TPMS training, TIA has worked with thousands of technicians and hundreds of tire dealers to discover how retailers can make TPMS a profit center instead of an expense. This discussion will cover the steps that companies can take from the sales counter all the way to the service bay to ensure that TPMS does not become a burden. By following the guidelines in this presentation, retailers are sure to increase their TPMS component sales and boost profits.

Tires at 2:

Tuesday, November 2: Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets – The franchise of Tires at 2 is back with an all-new panel sharing all-new secrets. It’s truly amazing how tire dealers are always willing to share the ideas that have made them successful. You can call it “giving something back” or “doing what is best for the industry,” but we call it the longest-running session in TIA history that shows no sign of slowing down. This year’s presenters will focus on all the usual subjects, such as employee compensation, marketing and customer retention, but they will also provide some additional insight on a specific aspect of their business that is the key to their success. There’s a lot of information to be shared, and only those in attendance will get it straight from their peers.

Wednesday, November 3: Strong Selling in a Weak Economy – Fixing the bottom line of a balance sheet is often accomplished by putting the focus on the revenue at the top. Without any major economic turnarounds on the horizon, tire dealers need to improve their sales skills more than ever. The economic challenges currently facing the retail tire and auto service industry will be discussed, and essential success factors, proven sales and customer service strategies to succeed in today's weak market will be given.

Thursday, November 4: Establishing a Wheel Torque Program – There has been a lot of attention on wheel torque lately as service providers are starting to recognize the liability that is created when a tire and wheel assembly is not installed with the correct amount of torque. But, more and more dealers are discovering that there are many aspects to a wheel torque program, so any failure along the line can result in a loose wheel. In this session, attendees will receive a comprehensive look at each component of a wheel torque program. This session will also discuss the latest torque tool technology, in addition to the recalibration requirements for all types of torque control devices.

Management at 4:

Tuesday, November 2: Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace – Are You at Risk? – Most small-business owners don't think they have a drug or alcohol problem with their employees and are surprised to learn that 72% of drug users are employed. Where are they employed? They work for companies who don't test! Studies show that 19% of on-the-job fatalities test positive for either drugs or alcohol and that abusers are 3.6 times more likely to have on-the-job accidents and five times more likely to file workers compensation claims. This session will help attendees understand the steps needed to establish a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.

Wednesday, November 3: Mastering Management – This session, led by ContactPoint, an industry leader in customer service sales training, coaching and call recording will help attendees understand how to communicate more effectively within a business setting, engage in customer service and put your business ahead of your competitors. They will learn skills that will help them separate from the rest of the industry and increase their ability to close every sale.

Thursday, November 4: Effective Marketing and Profitable Sales Growth in the Fleet/Commercial Tire Segment – For years, tire dealers have struggled to grow profitably in the fleet space. Thanks to new programs available through national partners, dealers now have the ability to grow fleet sales without the historical issues of cash flow, bad debt and collection costs. Attendees will learn how they can tap into the lucrative fleet market at this informative session.

“As one of the leading tire service training organizations in the world that has trained thousands of technicians, no one is better equipped to deliver the kind of relevant, informative educational sessions those in the tire industry will find useful than TIA,” said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. “We have created educational session tracks that give Expo attendees the best of both worlds; they can attend high-quality sessions and still have time to do business on the Expo floor.”

Interested Expo attendees can find out the latest session and speaker information, as well as hotel reservation and TIA special event information by visiting the “Events” section of www.tireindustry.org.